Indigenous peoples have stewarded the lands of this continent for time immemorial, carrying knowledge systems rooted in relationship, reciprocity, and responsibility to place. As open space professionals consider what it means to care for the commons, restoration must be more than a technical exercise; it must also be relational, holistic, and community-based. This session shares the Prairie Restoration Project at the Plains Conservation Center as a case study in integrating Indigenous perspectives into public land stewardship, demonstrating how prairie restoration can foster deeper 7 respect for the land, strengthen community connection, and support a shared ethic of care for the ecosystems that sustain us all.
